Support needed type 2, filling veggie meals

[jmh740]

I was diagnosed some time ago I've never really had it under proper control or taken it as seriously as I should my mental health has not been great and I didnt care enough about myself.
I have problems with my eyes and have to start having injections in them this month which I'm scared about. I'm a carer for my elderly dad, disabled husband and school age kids I'm terrified ill lose my sight won't be able to drive and care for everyone.

I have a really sweet tooth and find it hard not to snack.
I'm also vegetarian and eat too many cards pasta etc as its quick easy and cheap.
Can anyone suggest some veggie meals and snacks that will not send my sugars too high please.

Hi,

Have you tried legumes/lentils. Lentil soup is easy to make although will require planning as needs to be soaked.

I'm not diabetic or vegetarian so I can't help with meal suggestions but I have been having eye injections for about 18 months, it's every 4 weeks. Just wanted to reassure you, it's not as bad as you think it's going to be.
They start off by testing your sight with the usual reading chart, then take photos of the back of your eye. They put loads of anaesthetic drops in so it doesn't hurt much, just a little bit but really no more than having an injection anywhere else.
They don't inject from the front, so you don't see it coming. You get told to look at your nose and the injection goes into the white bit, at the side.
It's very quick and it's a lot better than going blind.

Can you have cauliflower cheese? If you make it with cream, mustard and cheese it cuts the carbs.

Spanish omelette without potatoes in it.

Diabetes U.K. have a great selection of recipes, use that to get some good general ideas that you can build to your tastes

www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/recipes

If you can push through 10 days of craving and feeling hungry then go cold turkey on sweets and refined carbs like cake, white bread and pastries. Honestly after that 10 days you will feel a lot less hungry and you will not crave the sweets anywhere near as much.

General rules are:

• look up low GI foods, those should be your staples
• if you have carbs pair them with a protein so apple slices with peanut butter, toast with egg
• veg grown above the ground is less carby than veg grown below the ground

Fat and protein will fill you up and won't spike your sugar levels - avocado, eggs, olive oil, full fat Greek yoghurt, full fat Longley farms cottage cheese (no other brand will do).

Omelette with cheese, spring onions, chilli, onion, spinach
Veg & bean chilli with sour cream and baked sweet potato or basmati rice
Greek yoghurt with blueberries, pecans and a drizzle of maple syrup
Rye bread toast with avocado or fried egg
Boiled dippy egg with asparagus spears for dipping
Cauliflower cheese

Swap out your pasta for green beans, cauliflower or brocolli, you can steam it in the microwave for 3 minutes or roast it in the oven for 20-30 mins with garlic infused olive oil. Then serve that on the side of bolognaise or whatever you would usually have with pasta/chips.

I am similar, vegetarian, sweet tooth, diabetic and too busy caring for everyone else so neglecting myself.

I would suggest:

Roast veg/Ratatouille accompanied by griddled halloumi or some feta for protein.

Crispy tofu (I cut into cubes and roast I'm oven, but am about to buy a small ait fryer to see if that helps with tofu and the halloumi) with roast broccoli or other veg.

A sort of Ploughman's lunch with cheddar, sliced apple, celery sticks, a pickled onion and some nuts to up the protein.

As we go in to summer, caprese salad (tomato and mozzarella), or add some avocado to make it a tricolor salad, or a salad with blue cheese, pear and walnuts on a bed of rocket.

For the sweet tooth, I am going to try getting a block of very nice dark chocolate flavoured with mint or raspberry and suck on a cube or two after dinner.

But I know it's easier said than done. I still haven't managed it......Good luck